Attention!!! Pro Sports Daily will be down on Wednesday morning from 5:00am - 7:00am eastern time for database maintenance. All Sports Direct Inc. properties will be down during this scheduled outage.
Sorry for any inconvenience that this outage may cause.

If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Life On The Farm: Hodgson Pointless With Moose
By Ian Walker 15 Oct 2010 Puckworld

I was walking our dog Nick Naked today when I ran into an elderly gentleman we often see and he asked me a question that left me red in the face. He wanted to know how Vancouver Canucks prospect Cody Hodgson was doing. Sadly, I had no clue. It's amazing how quickly we forget. It was only a couple of weeks ago we in the media were tracking his every move.

Turns out Hodgson is pointless through two games with the AHL's Manitoba Moose, playing on a line with Jordan Schroeder and Aaron Volpotti. Schroeder, the Canucks' first-round pick in 2009, leads the Moose in scoring with four assists.

Winger Victor Oreskovich along with defencemen Kevin Connauton and Evan Oberg lead the team in goals with two each while fellow blueliner Lee Sweatt has a goal and three points to sit tied for second in team scoring.

Head coach Claude Noel has yet to name a No. 1 with Eddie Lack and Tyler Weiman splitting the goaltending duty. Lack has allowed two goals and Weiman three in 60 minutes work each.

Manitoba head into a pair of weekend games tied for first in the Western Conference's North Division with a 2-0 record. The Moose look to keep their win streak alive against the Grand Rapids Griffins in their AHL home opener on Friday.

"When you have limitations and you understand your limitations and you stay within yourself, you can be great," Kobe Bryant said. "You know what you can do and what you can't do. In America, it's a big problem for us because we're not teaching players how to play all-around basketball. That's why you have Pau and Marc [Gasol], and that's the reason why 90 percent of the Spurs' roster is European players, because they have more skill."

Tony Gallagher mentioned in the break that Hodgson scored his first goal tonight.

"When you have limitations and you understand your limitations and you stay within yourself, you can be great," Kobe Bryant said. "You know what you can do and what you can't do. In America, it's a big problem for us because we're not teaching players how to play all-around basketball. That's why you have Pau and Marc [Gasol], and that's the reason why 90 percent of the Spurs' roster is European players, because they have more skill."

“When I was released, a lot of my friends were like, ‘I guess you are probably going to go to the Patriots to play with Tom Brady,’ and I'm like 'you all must not know about that kid down in Indy.’” Andre Johnson said of Andrew Luck

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The answer is meant to give away very little but says it all about Cody Hodgson.

"I'm feeling better every game," says Hodgson when asked about his health.

And looking better too.

Friday night was arguably Hodgson's best game as a pro as he scored twice and picked up an assist to lead the Moose to a 6-5 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins before 6,397 soppy fans on Dollar Beer Night at Van Andel Arena.

The first-round pick and Team Canada junior star had it all on display Friday night, using his offensive instincts to create openings and find open players as well as showing a goal-scoring side that gave him his fourth and fifth of the season.

Implicit in Hodgson's answer about his condition is that he's not 100 per cent after missing most of last season with a mysterious back injury. After receiving clearance to resume training midway through this past August, Hodgson arrived at Vancouver Canucks camp at a distinct disadvantage.

It's a difficult way to start a career when a rookie is saddled with the unrealistic expectations of a rabid hockey city.

Hodgson, however, has lightened the demands on himself and focused on enjoying hockey and improving on a daily basis in slow increments.

"I'm having fun just playing hockey again," says Hodgson. "It's something I've done all my life and I missed it last year."

After attending his first Canucks training camp two falls ago and declaring himself ready to play in the NHL upon being returned to his junior team, Hodgson has learned to keep most of his thoughts about his personal play to himself.

While it doesn't endear him to the media, it's a policy that can keep him out of trouble and leaves his play to do the talking.

So far, through 12 games with the Moose those results have been uneven overall but slowly leaning towards more consistency.

There's no question Hodgson is a blue-chip prospect and he's likely headed for a lengthy NHL career. His injuries last season, however, robbed him of speed and his legs are just now getting back to top form. In flight Hodgson is now moving well but his transition speed following stops and starts still lags.

Strength on the puck, defensive understanding and better results in one-on-one battles are all areas requiring improvement, but each game reveals Hodgson taking a bigger bite out of the game.

NHL managers and coaches say the same thing to all players when they send them back to the AHL -- go down there and dominate.

Hodgson has yet to do that on a night-in and night-out basis but his improving health and comfort level in the pro game should allow him to excel.

Perhaps more important is his acceptance of where he is and enjoying the journey as much as the destination. Sure, the NHL is the goal but that doesn't mean a player can't have fun and enjoy the experience of playing pro hockey.

Many look at a high draft pick's presence in the AHL as a failure. It's not and it can give a player the foundation he uses to excel as a top-end pro for years.

Canucks centre Ryan Kesler broke in with the Moose during the NHL lockout season of 2004-05 and thrived under the coaching of Randy Carlyle with no pressure from fans or media to hurry up and get to Vancouver.

The Canucks are a Stanley Cup contender in the eyes of most NHL observers and as such their roster should be tough to crack. For a player dogged by injury and glaringly shy on experience, the farm is exactly where Hodgson should be playing. Making mistakes, gaining experience and finally establishing confidence.

Games like Friday's are a window to the future and as they stack up one after another, Hodgson will force the issue. His ticket may have an open-ended stopover in Winnipeg but it does eventually end in Vancouver.

It's just a hunch, but you might want to get down to the rink to see this kid soon.

“When I was released, a lot of my friends were like, ‘I guess you are probably going to go to the Patriots to play with Tom Brady,’ and I'm like 'you all must not know about that kid down in Indy.’” Andre Johnson said of Andrew Luck

Those in Canucks Nation who suggested that top draft pick Cody Hodgson (10th overall in 2008) was bust who’s never going to make it to the NHL may consider adjusting their opinion.

After a slow start, with the Canucks’ AHL affiliate Manitoba Moose, Hodgson is beginning to show the form that allowed him to lead the 2009 world junior in scoring and be named Canadian major junior player of the year a few months later.

The 20-year-old centre leads the Moose in goals, with nine and points with 13. Hodgson has six goals in his last four games after collecting four points (3-1-4) in the Moose’ two wins on the weekend. He’s fourth in AHL scoring among rookies.

His play has reporters who cover the Winnipeg team saying he is among the best Canucks prospects to play for the Moose – on par with Cory Schneider, Ryan Kesler and Alexander Edler.

But even better news would be if Canucks GM Mike Gillis decides to be patient with Hodgson, who missed all but 24 games last season and struggled to recover from a back injury suffered in off-season training in the summer of 2009.

Hodgson’s game is finally beginning to show it’s blue-chip nature and the wrong move would be rushing him to the NHL now. And the way the Canucks are playing, there is no need.

“When I was released, a lot of my friends were like, ‘I guess you are probably going to go to the Patriots to play with Tom Brady,’ and I'm like 'you all must not know about that kid down in Indy.’” Andre Johnson said of Andrew Luck

Meanwhile. Canuck assistant general manager Lorne Henning said today that top prospect Cody Hodgson may have suffered a broken orbital bone when was struck in the face by a teammate's stick during a Manitoba Moose practice on Thursday. Henning indicated Hodgson could be out for a couple of weeks.

“When I was released, a lot of my friends were like, ‘I guess you are probably going to go to the Patriots to play with Tom Brady,’ and I'm like 'you all must not know about that kid down in Indy.’” Andre Johnson said of Andrew Luck

A day after Hodgson suffered an apparent fractured facial bone, Schroeder hurt his ankle Friday night when the Manitoba Moose played in Oklahoma City.

That's two first-round picks down in two days.

Schroeder left the game at 6:47 of the first period when another player fell on him. He had to be helped off and watched the third period leaning on a pair of crutches in the corner of the rink by the dressing room.

Manitoba coach Claude Noel had no information on Schroeder, Vancouver's first-round pick in 2009, other than to say he would not play tonight in San Antonio.

Hodgson figures to be out of the lineup for a while after suffering some type of facial fracture when he was struck by teammate Lee Sweatt's stick during a Moose practice Thursday in Oklahoma City.

Canucks assistant general manager Lorne Henning said Friday that Hodgson was having more tests, but may have suffered a fractured orbital bone.

Canucks coach Alain Vigneault could not shed any more light on Hodgson's injury.

"I think he is going back to Winnipeg there to get a second opinion, but it looks like from what we've heard that there is a fracture there," Vigneault said.

Heading into Friday's game in Oklahoma City, which Manitoba lost 4-2, Hodgson was second in Moose scoring with 10 goals and 16 points in 24 games.

“When I was released, a lot of my friends were like, ‘I guess you are probably going to go to the Patriots to play with Tom Brady,’ and I'm like 'you all must not know about that kid down in Indy.’” Andre Johnson said of Andrew Luck

RIGHT-WINGER Kevin Clark, who recorded four goals in his first 13 games, is nearing a return from a shoulder injury that has kept him out 11 games so far. Clark could well be ready next week.

Returning, not so soon

CENTRE Cody Hodgson, out nearly three weeks, and forward Jordan Schroeder, same, will not be back into the lineup quite so quickly. Moose coach Claude Noel said Monday there will be a meeting of medical minds on Hodgson's two right orbital-bone chips within a week, but even if Hodgson gets a green light, he's been doing little and will need some practice and conditioning time to be ready. Schroeder could be gone three to five weeks more with a high ankle sprain. The rookie duo were injured on back-to-back days earlier this month.

Returning: unknown

DEFENCEMAN Evan Oberg, clearly in Noel's doghouse, has watched four straight games from the pressbox. He's likely to find another opportunity shortly.

“When I was released, a lot of my friends were like, ‘I guess you are probably going to go to the Patriots to play with Tom Brady,’ and I'm like 'you all must not know about that kid down in Indy.’” Andre Johnson said of Andrew Luck

Manitoba Moose goalie and Canuck prospect Eddie Lack almost became Eddie Soprano at Monday's Moose practice in Abbotsford. Lack took a shot from Joel Perrault in the groin area, which is a polite way to describe where he was actually hit. He immediately crumpled to the ice on all fours and left hunched over. Ten minutes later, he was back and eventually able to joke about the almost serious injury. “I thought I was going to die,” said Lack, who was Monday named AHL goalie for the month of December. “Perrault took a slapper and it didn't even hit the cup. It wasn't my proudest moment out there but I feel fine now.” He looked fine, too, and a lot better than when he left the ice.

“When I was released, a lot of my friends were like, ‘I guess you are probably going to go to the Patriots to play with Tom Brady,’ and I'm like 'you all must not know about that kid down in Indy.’” Andre Johnson said of Andrew Luck

ABBOTSFORD -- There's still no exact timetable on the return of Vancouver Canucks prospects Cody Hodgson and Jordan Schroeder, but don't expect the two Manitoba Moose forwards to be back in the lineup anytime soon.

Hodgson, the Canucks' 10th overall pick in the 2008 NHL entry draft, has missed nine games while Schroeder, the team's first-rounder one-year later, hasn't played in eight. The two were injured on back-to-back days in early December.

Hodgson suffered a fractured orbital bone on Dec. 9, after being clipped by Lee Sweatt's errant stick during practice. Fortunately, surgery wasn't necessary. The 20-year-old centre has since resumed light skating and is scheduled to see a specialist on Thursday.

“Everything he's doing is very light right now,” said Moose head coach Claude Noel, on Sunday. “He has to allow the swelling to go down. There's just not a lot of choices with him right now. He needs to meet with the doctor on the 6th and then we'll take it from there. He's probably a few weeks away.”

A high ankle sprain forced Schroeder to leave in the first period of the Moose's game with the Oklahoma City Barons on Dec. 10. The 20-year-old winger has yet to begin skating, but unlike Hodgson, has been able to work out.

“Jordan's ahead of schedule, but still a couple of weeks as well,” said Noel. “He's been working off ice pretty hard, he's a lot more active than Cody, but the medical staff want to make sure they do the right things. Both guys are a ways away yet. They are not engrained with our team in terms of practicing, Usually, they go with the conditioning guys first.”

The Moose (18-11-0-4) haven't missed a beat in their absence, reeling off six straight wins before Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Chicago Wolves in Winnipeg. Manitoba plays a back-to-back games with the Heat (16-16-1-3) at the Abbotsford Sports and Entertainment Centre starting tonight at 7 p.m.

“When I was released, a lot of my friends were like, ‘I guess you are probably going to go to the Patriots to play with Tom Brady,’ and I'm like 'you all must not know about that kid down in Indy.’” Andre Johnson said of Andrew Luck

The Moose have won nine of their last 11 games and lifted their record to 21-12-0-4 in the North Division. That's one point behind front-running Hamilton, which also won Saturday. Manitoba has one game in hand, and at least two games in hand on the rest of its divisional rivals below. Hershey, 22-13-1-1, remains fourth in the East Division.

Chance After Chance

Their dozen power-play chances Saturday were the most in one game this season by four, and put the Moose at 201 opportunities on the season, the second team to crack the 200-plus mark.

He's Back

Former Moose and Hershey defenceman Bryan Helmer is finally back playing.

After being cut loose by the Bears, for whom he played during the last two seasons, the 38-year-old blueliner was signed late this week by the AHL's Oklahoma City Barons.

He made his debut with the Edmonton Oilers farm team on Friday night.

On Ice, But That's Good

Moose rookie forward Jordan Schroeder, who suffered a high ankle sprain in a game Dec. 10, has already returned to the ice to skate on his own and could join the team's practices soon. Fellow rookie Cody Hodgson, who suffered a chipped orbital bone the day before Schroeder's injury, may also return to skating with the team in the coming week, Moose coach Claude Noel said over the weekend.

Sergei Sizzles

Sergei Shirokov scored for the fifth straight game Saturday night, giving him 15 on the season. He's scored nine times in the last nine, and has a 10-game points streak alive.

"It's no secret," Shirokov said. "I'm just trying to play hard. Rosa gave me a really good pass on the five-on-three goal. I just try every game to get shots, to get the puck to the net, and just work hard.

Asked if he's feeling better about himself now that things are going well, his answer would likely have brought a tear to coach Claude Noel's eye. "If I score and help the team, it's lots of joy," he said, stealing one of Noel's favourite sayings.

“When I was released, a lot of my friends were like, ‘I guess you are probably going to go to the Patriots to play with Tom Brady,’ and I'm like 'you all must not know about that kid down in Indy.’” Andre Johnson said of Andrew Luck

As the American Hockey League announced the rosters for the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic on Tuesday, Shirokov found out that he’ll be making his second consecutive appearance in the mid-season showcase.

Shirokov scored twice for Planet-USA in a 10-9 shootout loss to Canada last year in Portland, Maine, and this time, he’ll be representing the Eastern Conference.

“It’s a really good time, I enjoyed it last year,” said Shirokov, who leads the Moose with 15 goals and 30 points in 37 games this season. “There are a lot of good players and it’s skilled hockey. I think it will be fun.

“It’s a little surprise for me. But in the last 10 games, I’ve played well and scored almost every game. We’ll see what happens in the All-Star Game.”

Shirokov is currently riding a 10-game points streak (nine goals, 12 points) as the Moose prepare to face the Milwaukee Admirals on Thursday and Saturday at the MTS Centre.

But it’s his commitment to other facets of the game that have earned praise from Noel.

“He deserves to go,” said Noel. “He’s been real good, he’s played real well and he’s been hot lately. I think he’s invested in his career, trying to adapt to the changes and trying to do some things differently. He’s working hard to get better and his numbers show it.”

Moose captain Nolan Baumgartner has seen the growth in Shirokov’s game.

“The coaches have talked to him about playing a defensive role to go with his offensive play and he’s actually really concentrated on that,” said Baumgartner.

One of the surprises on Tuesday was that rookie goalie Eddie Lack was overlooked.

However, it’s tough to argue with the selection of the three netminders as former Moose Curtis Sanford, Peoria Rivermen rookie Jake Allen and Mark Dekanich of the Milwaukee Admirals are all having great seasons to date.

“Eddie probably should be on that team,” said Baumgartner. “Maybe we should have got him a couple more shutouts and he would have been there.”

The only other Manitoba connection in the game is Foxwarren product Mark Wotton, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers veteran defenceman who will serve as the Eastern Conference captain in the game.

“When I was released, a lot of my friends were like, ‘I guess you are probably going to go to the Patriots to play with Tom Brady,’ and I'm like 'you all must not know about that kid down in Indy.’” Andre Johnson said of Andrew Luck